The introductory affair had taken about 30 minutes, so there were still 20 minutes until noon. I am to remain involved until the next stage of our relationship with the Priestess Cult is settled.
Sorry, Arrjee. I’ll understand if you decide to level without me.
“Sir emissary,” Mayor Barrie Silverstone said, “Forrest is just one of the pre-accepted students to the Adventuring Academy. We have asked the rest to witness your arrival on this perhaps auspicious day. Even if we do not end up accepting you as an envoy, we would like to show you hospitality now and build a basis for friendship into the future.”
So I wouldn’t have to carry both it and the staff, I had put my helmet back on. Dad asked Uncle Ralf to lead us onto campus. Ronkel chose to walk alongside him at the front. Immediately following them were Dad, emissary, her horse Blink, and myself. As we approached the academy gate, Asiel joined the three of us and introduced himself. Orian and Harron fell in behind, and Runtel Trillet caught up to them from where he had been stationed near the village gate.
We did not head directly to the admin building, instead going to the stables and corral first so that Blink could be cared for. Emissary seemed impressed by the various buildings she saw and especially the care which had been put into the campus landscaping. The path was replete with young trees, well-trimmed bushes, various flowers, and thick verdant grass everywhere which wasn't occupied by a path or a structure. Reaching the large corral she could see it was an ideal grazing area, with several horses taking full advantage.
Stablemaster Rahun Borrel met us outside it. Asiel introduced him and he and emissary spoke for a moment. She turned care of Blink over to him. Blink was well-behaved and accepted Rahun almost instantly. I don’t know if telepathy played a part, but I suspected it did. As we walked away, she complimented Asiel for choosing such an excellent and highly qualified staff member. Asiel replied, “Thank you. He is our lead stablemaster. We have another.” That might have surprised her, since the facility seemed of only moderate capacity, but she didn’t question it.
We continued, taking the long way around to our destination. She asked what the purpose was of the small, cylindrical buildings. Orian answered from behind her, “Those are our privies. As I am sure you are aware, the academy is international in nature. We designed them to be fully accessible to both bipeds and tripeds.”
She wondered aloud, “Do you already have any Trichyan students?”
I responded, “There is just one so far. Their name is Evening Sun. I’m sure you’ll see them in a few moments. By the time the academy opens, we expect at least three more.”
“This is exciting. I have not had the opportunity to meet Trichyans before. Has Evening Sun leveled yet, and what are their classes?”
Master Trillet responded, “Yes. Sun is a Level 6 Defensive Armsman and Guardian, the tank for Forrest’s team.”
“A three-armed tank. That could prove to be a formidable teammate. How big are your student teams, Forrest Rhodes?”
“Please call me Forrest. They will normally have five members, but, for complicated reasons, mine ended up with six.”
She responded, smiling, “Very well, Forrest. I would say to call me ‘emissary’, but well …” Everyone else agreed to a first name basis as we continued to walk. She pointed to something and asked, “What is that much smaller cylindrical thing? Surely you don’t need privies for beings that small.”
“No, it is not a privy,” Harron replied. “It is a chimney. There are multiple ones leading from a large cavern beneath campus. We use the cavern for special forms of training.”
“And likely for your formless abider as well. It is hard to imagine a more secure location.” Harron acknowledged, implying he was curious how she knew. “If three large bandit gangs can find out about it, attempt to steal it, and are run off with no casualties, you do not exactly have a secret.”
Without thinking I said, “There was one casualty.”
In for a penny, in for a pound.
“The bandits sent two rogues ahead to silence our gate guard. One of them … did not survive.”
“I hope your guard did?”
“Yes. The rogue who died was by all accounts a bastard and would have mutilated or killed the guard. That was beyond the scope of their assigned mission; their objective was simply to prevent an alarm from being sounded. The younger rogue fought him with an assist from our guard, who just had his arm cut off as the bastard's first act of cruelty. They managed to defeat and kill him, with fatal injuries to themselves. But Harron and I were able to get up to the gate in time to save them, and the guard’s arm.”
“Would the younger rogue be Corval Hirsut, one of the other guards I commanded earlier, along with ‘Sarf’ and Lenyet Birch? I thought it quite curious to see a guard who was both a convict and a rogue.”
Dad answered her. “Yes. He was tried for the crime of banditry, but due to his honor and conviction on the gate, his sentence is to assist both the town guard and the school for a period of one year. He has freedom of movement otherwise. He grew up in a bandit troupe, and after his sentence, his foster mother came to town, seeking to learn his fate. She has formally adopted him now.”
I added, “Mowd Dressen now also fosters two of my teammates, Sun and Ferret. Sun was an outcast, and Ferret was a nomad. Since Mowd grew up a nomad herself, she relates well with them. She works with my grandmother now, since they are both alchemists.”
“I also grew up a nomad. It can be a harsh life.”
FR: My intuition tells me it could prove very useful for Mowd and emissary to meet. Maybe she should attend this meeting?
BS: I trust your intuition, Son. Would you like to excuse yourself and go get her?
FR: I think I need to be here for emissary’s student welcome.
OW: I’ve just been basically following everyone. I’ll go get her.
Orian announced, “Excuse me. There is some business I need to attend to in town. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He hurried off without waiting for any comment.
Ronkel shared, “Mowd, Corval, Ferret, and another student are all founding members of our thieves guild. Cottages isn’t large enough to actually have a use for thieves, but we practice our skills. Everyone memorizes our code.”
Emissary responded, “I find all of this very impressive. Not just these academy grounds, but the general tenor of your society. We knew letting Lord Rose and his men go was unusual, but I now learn you accept the presence of a convict as essentially a full citizen and openly acknowledge the constructive presence of an honorable thieves guild. There are many communities which would reject policies such as these.”
“I am sure Lord Rose informed the cult that I was an awakened?” Seeing her acknowledge with a nod, “ On my first world, those things would have been unthinkable. Here, though, they just work. Even if there were no magic, this place would be magical.”
We made a turn onto the parade ground, which would lead us to the admin building. But its view was blocked. “Is that just a lone wall at the other end? Is it part of an archery range, perhaps?”
“No, emissary,” Runtel explained. “We place archery targets at the other end, next to the wall just behind us. The wall ahead is the backside of a doorway.”
“A doorway? With no building??”
“Yes,” I responded with a smile. Its purpose will be clearer from the other side. No one has used it yet. Well, we did once, but from the other side.”
“... The other side is a brick wall.”
I laughed, “It sure looks that way, doesn’t it? You will understand better when you see the other, other side.”
“The doorway?”
“Exactly!”
Probably deciding we had toyed with her long enough, Uncle Ralf picked up his pace so we could reach the wall quickly. Dad told her of the meeting many weeks ago when we had the headmaster from the First Duchy’s Academy come and provide details concerning Einvigi’s plan. Emissary had not been aware this academy was being founded under her auspices, even to the point of her paying for it.
As we approached the wall, we moved to its left side so as to walk around it. Further ahead, the admin building was visible, with numerous people waiting outside it. When we got to its other side, Ralf had us turn around to get a good look at its front side and the doors. Emissary read aloud the plate above them, ‘Skawa’s Adventure’. “Both doors are beautifully crafted. I see Skawa is on one. Is that Einvigi on the other?” We confirmed it was. “I would guess these must be some sort of portal doors. You said to date they have only been used to come to campus, not leave it?”
“Yes,” Asiel confirmed. “Skawa has delayed their general activation until some point in time closer to the academy being fully open. We do not exactly know when that will be.”
“You have untold treasures here, and people fully up to the task of safeguarding them and I believe using them wisely. This is far beyond what I expected.”
We’ve still got more surprises.
Yes.
We turned around and recommenced our walk. Asiel stated, “As you can see, our students have gathered to welcome you, emissary.”
We got closer, and soon emissary needed to express her impression. “I … am amazed to see you have more than Human, Covargh, and Trichyan. You have an Earth Elemental? Two emergents? Don’t tell me the horse and that foal are students also? No, that wouldn’t make any sense.”
A few steps later and the foal named Norrus smiled at her. A big, happy smile which, if you didn't know him, probably looked kind of creepy.
“No, at least not yet,” I answered. Just then, Swagger manifested an arm and hand and waved at her.
Perplexed. “That horse named Swagger. He is waving to me.”
I vaguely explained, “He might recognize you. Were you ever at acolyte’s cloister? It is where he became aware of the Priestess, and how we learned she is a Skolturi Wraith.”
“You mean he is acolyte’s horse? That would make him cult property.”
I responded coldly, “That is incorrect, emissary. First, if he were property, all her belongings were forfeit to me after she attempted to kill me. Second, he is not property, but a fully sapient being, and our friend. The cult has no claim to him.”
BS: Son, calm down.
FR: Sorry. I overreacted to what might have just been her thinking aloud.
She was looking at me, very surprised. “I apologize, emissary. I overreacted. He is not just our friend, he is my friend. You might already realize that Rahun Borrel can speak with him telepathically, hold conversations. After all, they are our co-stablemasters. The rest of us can speak with him via the party interface. If you desire, we can form a party together later.”
“No, Forrest. It is I who spoke out of turn. I concede both of your assertions. I apologize to you for my thoughtless comment. Yes, I would very much like to speak with him later. And no, I never visited acolyte’s cloister.”
“Speaking of actual property – here, the cult can have this back. It is cursed, and I don’t really want it.” I held out acolyte’s old staff, vertically before us.
Emissary accepted it, examining the stick for a moment. “I see no curse. It is a fine staff, enchanted so as to magnify the effect of any blow, physical or augmented.”
“I think you are so used to seeing these things, you must not think about it. It is the other enchantment, with its light encouragement of loyalty. That is well and good for someone who has already expressed their fealty to the Priestess, but to anyone else it feels creepy and manipulative.”
“Very well, I accept it under the terms you offered Lord Rose.” She reached into her bubble and pulled out three gold coins.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“No, thank you. Payment is not necessary. Consider it an apology for my rudeness.”
“And my thoughtlessness, how do I repay that? Please accept these three gold pieces, and we shall forget the matter entirely.”
RT: She may not owe them to you, but accepting them will demonstrate your full willingness to move on.
“Very well, emissary. Thank you.” I accepted the coins and took a moment to place them in my pouch.
We had stopped before all the students. Asiel made introductions, saying something complimentary about each one. Without giving any details concerning Norrus’ nature, he introduced him. The young wolf morphed into his 11-year old Covargh form. “This way I can say hello. Hello, emissary. I am so glad you chose to meet and speak with us, instead of trying to kill anyone.”
I guess he cannot yet morph to include clothing.
Including both a living form and inanimate accouterments is an advanced capability. He embodied a foal flawlessly, however.
“I agree.” ‘Bizarro-foal’ is no more.
For the 21-year old I am sure she saw with Analyze, that would have sounded very awkward. But for the 11-year old he is, it was simply earnest.
She handled it with the practiced grace of a diplomat. “Thank you, young Norrus Loruste. I too am glad.”
Asiel completed his introductions, saving Swagger for last. He held out a hand for her to shake, and she accepted it. “I am honored to meet you, Swagger. Forrest has indicated that you two are very good friends.” He neighed, and nodded his head once.
“Do you think she has figured out that he is using Telekinetic Arms? Since no one but gods can see his fragmentary Mindsmith class or two granted skills, Analyze won’t tell her anything.”
If she has had contact with mid-level Mindsmiths, she may have deduced what he is doing. Just not how.
Asiel announced, “Students, you are dismissed. We appreciate the welcome you gave to emissary.”
“Yes, I am honored, surprised, and extremely impressed. Thank you.”
Arrjee asked || Forrest, when do you think you will be free? I still would like you there for when I level. anxious excitement
|| I am not sure, to be honest. If you want to level, go ahead. You can show me your skills later. awkwardness, trapped, understanding
|| I’ll wait. It’s the least I can do, since she didn’t kill you. humor
||
Sun added || We’ll just have to keep putting up with both brothers.
----------------------------------------
Uncle Ralf opened the admin door, standing at the side to let us proceed through. We did. Tiyana Yon was inside waiting for us, and she had provided a snack cart with nibble-food and water to drink. “Hello, emissary, everyone. I am Tiyana Yon. I serve as an administrator along with Asiel Windgarden. Help yourselves to snacks. After this meeting, we can have an actual lunch at the cafeteria.”
I skipped the snack cart, but several others, including emissary, grabbed a snack or two and a glass of water. We took consecutive seats around the table. I was seated between Dad and emissary, and Asiel was on her other side. There was no longer a reason to wear my helmet or gloves, so I removed them and placed them before me. Runtel, the only other of us fully armored, did the same.
“This is an impressive meeting room, and I love this round table. The two stone seats are for elementals such as Odd, correct?” Asiel confirmed it.
After a couple moments to snack and engage in polite conversation, the Mayor began the serious discussion. “Emissary, I am sure you have concluded we have little reason to fear your cult, and the possibility of establishing a formal relationship holds significant appeal. However, it would not be appropriate for Cottages to do so. We are a small provincial village far from Capital City. Such a political relationship should be with Duchess Tarbra Jossel, not us.”
Before she could answer, Asiel continued, “However, the Fifth Duchy Adventuring Academy is an entity outside the political realm, independent to the extent Einvigi allows. Should we decide to accept your request, it would be with us, not the Village of Cottages. Informally, you would be an envoy to both, but your official status would be as a liaison to the Academy and a representative of the Priestess.”
“I understand. It would be acceptable, but I wonder if my name and title of ‘emissary’ would cause issues in the future.”
“No, it should not,” the Mayor answered. “We would notify the duchess of your position and explain that ‘emissary’ is your name. A bigger issue would likely be that the Priestess personally intended to slowly curse those in the royal palace. We reported to her that a fragment of her spirit was held within it, leading to the death of Sterbian Morse.”
Three others entered the room, Orian and two women. As we looked at them, he said, “My apologies for the interruption. I went into town to fetch Mowd Dressen, and she insisted that Rhonda Silverstone accompany us. Forrest intuited that it would be useful for Mowd and emissary to meet. Mowd intuited that Rhonda’s presence might also be beneficial.” Dad welcomed them, made formal introductions, and asked them to be seated.
I said, “This feels a little awkward, but let me explain. Sometimes my mind makes connections which may seem very trite to others, or possibly seeming completely random. I felt that sort of connection being made when emissary mentioned her background as a nomad.”
Mowd responded, “I understand those insights well, Forrest. As a witch I sometimes feel the same thing, which is why Rhonda is here.”
“Let me catch you up on the meeting so far,” Tiyana said. She did so. “Mayor, you had just mentioned the death of Sterbian Morse.”
“May I continue?” emissary asked. Dad indicated she should. “The scroll was never intended to cause a direct death such as that. His death resulted from the sanctity of the scroll being breached. We accept responsibility and are prepared to pay reparations to his family.”
Wow, talk about timing.
Fate. We have discussed this.
“Reparations? Direct death?” grandma asked. She was incensed. “What about the many years of a happy peaceful life he lost as that piece of paper slowly corrupted his personality, turned him away from his friends, making him trust virtually no one? There is no repairing that can be done. He is gone, his death involving minutes of pure agony. It is an agony I felt also, as the ‘breach’ cursed both of us with boiling blood.”
“At any rate, his family has turned from him, not even bothering to come here to close out his affairs. Emissary, you may have had nothing to do with this, but until the Priestess stands before me eye-to-eye and offers a sincere apology, it won’t be over for me.”
Emissary stood. She walked over to grandma’s chair and knelt on both knees. “Rhonda Silverstone, please look at me.” She reluctantly turned and did so.Two women with tears in their eyes stared at each other. “Perhaps one day the Priestess can give you that. What I can offer now is my personal apology. It is obvious he meant a tremendous amount to you; anyone can see it. I cannot fix what happened, but for what it is worth, I can relate to the depth of your loss.”
They stared into each other's eyes, perhaps searching for something. After about a minute, grandma told her, “Get up, woman, and take a seat. Our knees are not meant for this hardwood floor.” Emissary did so. As she seated herself, grandma added, “I accept your apology, but it does not extend beyond that. Not to your cult, not to the Priestess.”
“That is all that I can ask.”
Dad invited grandma, Mowd, and Tiyana into the party.
BS: Rhonda I am sorry this brought back those memories.
RS: I am not. Some things should be remembered. Sterbian is gone, but what else is the cult doing right now?
FR: Skawa revealed they do good stuff secretly. Sometimes they help thousands at the same time. But for some reason they do bad stuff too, usually involving the very powerful, and have no problem with people learning about the bad. I know that doesn’t help Sterbian, but there is a bigger picture.
TY: That does not make any sense.
MD: From the bottom, the top often fails to make sense. I don’t know what Priestess’ true motives are, but they are more complex than we knew.
Dad brought us back to the matters at hand. “For now, the issue of reparations is tabled. There may come a time when we wish to reopen it. Mowd and Tiyana, Cottages’ only contact with the Priestess Cult is the Sterbian affair and acolyte’s team sent to investigate it, Both experiences were quite negative. Now emissary has arrived and we need to make a decision as to whether she will be welcome to stay. Can you add any information about the cult from your own backgrounds?” Tiyana had nothing to add.
“Asiel,” Mowd asked, “I have vague memories of a traumatic experience from my childhood. Could you have me reveal my memories of a series of tornadoes from when I was about 10?”
“Of course. Mowd Dressen, what do you remember from your childhood which might have something to do with the Priestess Cult?” || Reveal
“Still a rush. My tribe usually kept to itself, with self-sufficiency being a primary tenet of our communal life. One summer this ideology was tested, and it failed against nature’s onslaught. The initial two days of thunderstorms was nothing we had not experienced before. However, the third day brought a huge tornado directly to our encampment, utterly destroying it. Our simple homes, our food stores, our well – all gone. Four of us died that day, including Blaze, an honored tribe member and sapient horse. She died using her body to shield from the devastating wind two children barely half as old as me. Later we found an outcropping of rock, the two living kids, and the body of Blaze penning them in. We never found any of our other horses.”
“The rest of us managed to reach the shelter of a nearby cave.The tornado had left nothing behind. The next day there were two other tornados. Although they were not direct hits as had the huge one the day before, they were still terrifying. Our tribe had been living 60 miles from the nearest full-time town. The following day, barely with any food or water, 47 of us commenced a journey there for shelter, for survival. We trekked almost in silence, still in shock. There were those in the tribe who had the Make Water and Make Food skills, but no one had instant Make Home, Make Blanket, Make Clothing, or Make Things Right capabilities.”
“A day later we were met on the road by a band of eleven adults. They were Human, Covargh, and Hybrid – all dressed simply. They were equipped with tools, blankets, extra clothing, and real food. We never learned who they were. They would only tell us they would help, and they lived up to their word. Over the next several days we established a new camp near a mountainside and began rebuilding. We offered them future compensation, once we had something to give, but they declined, indicating we would likely never see them again. They left once it was clear our community could reform. Fifteen gold coins were left behind so that we could buy tools and supplies.”
“If the Priestess Cult has a mission to assist those who need it, perhaps those people were part of it.” Mowd unfocused, indicating that her revelation was complete.
Emissary said, “I cannot say if those people who assisted you were members or not. But what you describe fits with some of our methodologies. Not all roving bands are highwaymen or bandits. And some who are will sometimes come to the assistance of others.”
Orian inquired, “You asked the Mayor what we would hope to gain if a relationship were formed. What does the cult hope to gain?”
“My answer is much the same as his. Although we were unaware as to the extent this place is exceptional, by Lord Rose’ account we knew there was a good chance exceptional and interesting people were here. I came here in the hope to learn about you, to investigate if the small picture the lord had witnessed might be even bigger than what he was able to relate. And, probably most significantly, the Priestess herself is intrigued. I do not offer you all our secrets, nor do I expect you to reveal all of yours. Yet I believe we could both gain much.”
The room went quiet for a moment. The Mayor asked, “Does anyone have any specific questions before we commit to any sort of relationship? I do not believe it wise to make that decision today, but instead reconvene tomorrow for the final determination. Emissary, I am also asking if you have any other questions. Just so you are aware, Forrest will not be able to be here tomorrow.”
She laughed. “Well I wonder why Forrest keeps being absent, but if you wanted to tell me that, you would have done so”
No one had any other topics they wanted to discuss. Tiyana suggested we call the meeting to a close and those who wished could have lunch at the campus cafeteria. It was so agreed.
I asked, “Emissary, would you like to speak with Swagger before lunch? I have another engagement soon, but we have time before then.”
“Yes, I would very much like to do so.”
FR: I’ll be dropping from this party so that Emissary, Swagger, and I can form another. Very interesting morning!
Several in the party wished me well, and Interface and I dropped out.
People were standing, getting ready to leave and having quick one-on-one talks. I put my gloves back on and chose to carry my helmet. Emissary was waiting for me by the door, and we went out.
----------------------------------------
I was surprised to see Arrjee and Swagger still there.
|| Hello brother. I am almost done. Are you in a party with Swagger? If so, could you invite emissary and me, but not Interface? She doesn’t know about him.
I re-introduced them, adding a couple details Asiel had not. Arrjee told her to use his first name.
|| Okay. I just told Swagger not to mention Interface or your nature. He said he wouldn’t mention his fragmentary class, either.
Arrjee added us to the party he had with Swagger.
S: Hey, Forrest. Hello emissary. It is nice to speak with you.
E: Hello, Swagger. This is a new experience for me.
Arrjee said, “We can speak normally. Swagger hears and understands, but as smart as he is, he can’t talk. Yet. So he’ll keep texting.”
S: It is on my list, right after embroidery and my autobiography.
She laughed. “Hands and a sense of humor. You are full of surprises. I am curious about something. Forrest said you might have remembered me from acolyte’s cloister. I was never there, but do you remember everything from back then? You remembered the Priestess; I am just curious about how much more. If you don’t wish to disclose that, it’s fine.”
S: No, it’s fine. I probably would not have remembered you. You are Human, and I was only sentient at the time. You would not have stood out. A Skolturi Wraith did, as well as being someone to whom acolyte showed great deference. She was senior in the herd. My intelligence had probably already started improving as I fought the binding, but that was making me a smarter sentient, not sapient.
“How long have you been sapient?”
S: Five weeks, six? It was the day acolyte died and the binding broke. Forrest gave me a peach, and I knew I liked it. I mean, I knew that I knew that I liked it.
I proclaimed, “I knew it was the peach!”
“And, brother, some day you too may become sapient.”
“Forrest, may I ask how long you have been on Heere?”
My thresholded memory kicked in. “Since Ninthday, 12 Fourthmonth. Three months now. I spawned in the woods, and Arrjee was the first person I met.”
“I had a minor injury and he used Ki to heal me. I had never heard of that before. It turns out, no one had.”
“Technically it wasn’t me healing you. I was enhancing your own HP Regeneration. So you healed yourself, just quicker.”
“Whatever.” In a stage whisper to emissary, “He’ll bury you in details.”
She smiled. “You two are fine brothers.”
She apparently analyzed me. “Heal Other, Bless Blood, HPR Boost and Share Health. Very interesting. I know you have something else to do, but at some point I would like to learn about the Ki Healer class.”
“If I’m not around, and you are still here, ask Onre Litman or Norrus Loruste. They are our other Ki Healers right now.”
“You sound as if you are expecting more.”
“We are, actually. One of the reasons Einvigi is founding this academy is to explore the applicability and dangers of this class. She was uncomfortable recommending it to her disciples because of some, um, unusual side effects. We’re pretty isolated from the rest of the world, so testing it in this one location would slow its spread. At least unless gods and various mortal leaders encouraged its adoption.”
“Effects such as?”
“Well, my latest skill is Share Health. It actually damages me, using my own health to directly heal someone else. It barely uses any ki but tears me apart beginning with my skin and muscles. Fun stuff, causing me more damage than it heals. I didn’t have that back when Einvigi first spoke with us, just Share Health and Bless Blood. They have a different side effect. I can show you without any damage, to me or you, if you want.”
“Alright. What should I do?”
“Stand there and look beautiful.”
S: You’re already hitting on her the very day you meet? What are you, a horse?
Arrjee cracked up, and emissary smiled. “Okay, just for that, 5 doses of Bless Blood each for all three of you. Arrjee, Swagger, stand there and look handsome.” Bless Blood had gotten more efficient, so to demonstrate the side effect, I was including two doses that I would not have needed at a lower rank.
I dosed each of them, one after the other before I began with the second doses. Arrjee and Swagger knew what to expect, but not emissary. When I was through, my two friends showed visible signs of excitement, and emissary was breathing hard.
“And that is why Einvigi was unsure about the wisdom of large numbers of young people learning this class. Those of us who have it intend to prove its risks are outweighed by its benefits. One of those benefits being the numerous doses of Bless Blood which enabled Rhonda to survive being cursed with Boiling Blood.”
I summarized the description of the skill for her. Even though it is one of my easiest class skills to rank, it is still only at D. Even if I used it on myself 50 times an hour each day for 4 hours, that is still only 200 RP per day. The transition to C is over 8000 RP.
“It is an incredible skill, but I understand Einvigi’s precaution.”
“We do as well. “ It was pushing 11. “By the way, this is Arrjee’s birthday, and he has been patiently waiting for me to be with him when he levels. Would you like us to escort you to the cafeteria before we go off somewhere and do that?
“I saw where it was, but you could show me to one of the privies. I have been very curious to see one from the inside. Maybe I will see you later today.”